M1 Garand

[OFT II]

I have a little expert badge here somewhere, that I earned with one of those old rifles. I believe it weighed 11 pounds in the morning when we started out and at least 43 on the way back to the barracks in the evening.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

Leon, you must have had one of the featherweight models.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Leon, you must have had one of the featherweight models.

Probably my memory, since it was 57 years ago.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[S&W629]

No need to install...but can come in handy...."Schuster Nut"....

//www.midwayusa.com/product/100471950?pid=777146

 

[charlie sherrill]

I've had all of them but the Italian model. The one I kept I call my "School Bus Rifle". It's made by International Harvester, same company that furnishes a lot of the school buses around here. All the parts are as they should be. I left the stock like I got it. There's at least another million Garands and M1 carbines in countries we loaned them to that are waiting to come home to collectors if we can get some of our politicians to ask for them. A previous administration blocked return of these rifles making a statement they "might fall into the wrong hands." I was in law enforcement over 40 years and the one crime I have seen committed with either rifle was when Sheriff Buford Pusser and his wife were ambushed by some guys with a carbine over 40 years ago. I've never heard of a drive-by or any other crime since. CMP is doing a good job getting a few 1911's back to the people who paid for them. They need a little help from somewhere to get the rifles back.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have a little expert badge here somewhere, that I earned with one of those old rifles. I believe it weighed 11 pounds in the morning when we started out and at least 43 on the way back to the barracks in the evening.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

Actually, the weight of the Garand averages out at about 9 1/2 pounds, varying depending on the density of the wood in the stock components.

John

 

[LVSteve]

Great find congrats,if it was mine i'd put a little gloss shine on that stock.

I'm sorry but BLECH!!! Shiny stocks are no help on a military gun. JMNSHO.

 

[Gene L]

I'm sorry but BLECH!!! Shiny stocks are no help on a military gun. JMNSHO.

I agree. Which is why I prefer raw oil. Products like Linspeed and True Oil have driers in them which causes them to dry quickly and highly shine, especially on the surface which is why civilian gunsmiths recommend them. Great finish on a civilian rifle, but I want a dull, penetrating finish on military rifles, like they had originally.

 

[lrrifleman]

I agree. Which is why I prefer raw oil. Products like Linspeed and True Oil have driers in them which causes them to dry quickly and highly shine, especially on the surface which is why civilian gunsmiths recommend them. Great finish on a civilian rifle, but I want a dull, penetrating finish on military rifles, like they had originally.

Yes, linspeed does dry fast, kinda ... Neither of my Garands have shiny stocks. When I oil my stocks, I take about an hour and a half to rub in the oil with two fingers, looking to generate friction heat to open up the pores. I let it dry for two to three days, then I rub down the finish on the stock with 0000 steel wool. I then wipe down the whole stock with an old tee shirt, then reapply the linspeed oil. I repeat the process four to five times. I have never completed a stock in this manner in in less than two weeks.

 

[JohnRippert]

I had a Wenig stock set that I put on a .308 Garand way back. It came unfinished as requested and I proceeded to follow a old adage for upkeep on stocks. Once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year, once a year for life. It had around 30 coats of BLO on it by the time I sold it. This is what it looked like.